427 emblem

[joe'stoy]

I am considering putting the 1 inch by 3 inch side emblem "427 ford cobra"
on my B & B. What did this emblem stand for when first used, the 427 body style or a 427 engine. Maybe you could not get the 427 body without the 427 engine, but I don't want to put the emblem on if it really is meant to indicate the engine in the car (I don't have a 427 in it).
Thanks for any response.

[ZOERA-SC7XX]

If you keep your hood closed, nobody will know what you have. In my opinion, the 427 is the body/chassis combination Shelby used with the serial numbers starting with 3XXX, which were equipped with big block FE engines.

[Bartruff1]

Originally Posted by ZOERA-SC7XX

If you keep your hood closed, nobody will know what you have. In my opinion, the 427 is the body/chassis combination Shelby used with the serial numbers starting with 3XXX, which were equipped with big block FE engines.

Hell, no one knows if you open the hood as many (most ?) 427's are just bored and stroked 351 Winsors. I think they look the same on the outside.

[Dwight]

I have a pair of Emblem that says “Powered By Ford”, on my Cobra. Some say the 427 is the body and some say it's the motor. If you like them, use them. It's your car. Shelby built 348 Cobras with 427's or 428's, most had the 428. I think all had the 427 badges. I see a lot of people pull up beside me and read the badges. I see their lips say "Ford." If someone ask me if I have a big block or 427, I ask them what does it sound like. They always say big block/427. I have a fuel injected small block. I am alway nice, but I'm driving the Cobra and they in "what ever." Most people don't know and don't really care.
Enjoy your Cobra the way you want to.

Dwight

I'm going for popcorn now and I'll be right back

[Rick Parker]

OK guys, my gray hair is going to show on this. The first Cobras had a badge that said "Powered By Ford", this was on the 260 & 289 cars. Later when the ol Man decided he needed a bigger Hammer and the 427 FE was deemed necessary after Chevrolet introduced the 396. It was at that time what we now know as the 427 body style was created. Different radiator opening, wider fenders and track. This was done to accomodate the larger engine, chassis improvemnts were part of the redesign. The badge dictated the engine within. It was only later in a cost cutting move that Ford insisted that the 428 engine replace the prior high dollar 427. Later after much commotion the 427's were again used on the assembly line. So to answer your question it indicated what was perceived to sit under the hood.

[jwd]

Everything I've read says they went with the 428 because the 427 was hard to get and the 428 was $410 cheaper. Since they were losing approx. $1000 per car, it made sense to go with the cheaper motor. There were a few 427's installed after the change but most were 428's. Supposedly, the brochures were changed to 428 specs. but it wasn't advertised.
Most agree that the 427 signifies the body type, not the motor.

[Excaliber]

There is little doubt that Shelby first used the 427 emblem to denote the MOTOR now housed in the all new designed Cobra. Like the NASCAR guys had '427' prominently displayed on the hood of their race cars at the time. It was Ford's crowning achievment and a nod on their behalf. Now of course as time went on Shelby used some 428's to keep cost under control, and what a can of worms THAT opened with current buyers who THOUGHT they were getting a 427 cid legend under the hood.

But yes, you could make a strong case for the 427 representing the body style, as then and today we typically separate the two basic styles between 289 small block and 427 big block car styles. The early '289' cars came with a 260, and then there were slab side, FIA and other variations on the 'small block' Cobra theme. As there would be with the big block car's, er, the 427 Cobras (competition, SC, street, 428, etc.).

Note the early cars were NOT "289" Cobra's, they were "Powered by Ford" Cobra's. When the next generation came about, which utilized the 427, I doubt anyone envisioned that at some point in the future they would come with a 428. The car was named after it's motor I tell ya, a 427, which quickly evoloved into a 'model' name as well.

So what to run? When I had my Excalibur with a 302 I was faced with the same delima. Myself, I chose to go with "Powered by Ford" for that car.

[jwd]

To complicate things more, 427's actually displaced 425 ci and 428's were actually 427 ci.

[computerworks]

You are building a replica of an old car.

If you are building a replica of a CSX2000 series car, use the "Powered by Ford" emblem.
If you are building a replica of a CSX3000 series car, use the "427 Cobra" emblem.

Nothing else matters. :-)

[FLYINGA]

Originally Posted by computerworks

You are building a replica of an old car.

If you are building a replica of a CSX2000 series car, use the "Powered by Ford" emblem.
If you are building a replica of a CSX3000 series car, use the "427 Cobra" emblem.

Nothing else matters. :-)

Does anyone know where I can by 427 Cobra emblems without the word Ford on them? Thanks.

[Dwight]

Why?
What is wrong with Ford?



Dwight

[Bernica]

This is the badge that came on CSX4250. The scratches have since been taken care of....

[jesseasi]

Originally Posted by FLYINGA

Does anyone know where I can by 427 Cobra emblems without the word Ford on them? Thanks.

I am interested too. I have a BackDraft and I am not trying to kid myself that I have an Original Shelby. So I have thought about getting something that had 427 and ROUSH. I get asked all the time what I have inside - it would be easier if it was on a nice looking badge. Different than everything out there - but my car is different too.

Any ideas? 427 ROUSH?

[Excaliber]

Actual displacement vs motor size designation is pretty common within the industry. The 396 GM big block comes to mind as yet another example of advertising vs reality with cid.

Whats under the hood? I recall in the late 60's early 70's, with GM car's in particular, you could never be sure WHAT you might find under the hood. A Buick or Pontiac motor in a Chevy, or vice versa. It was a big stink when people bought a brand name car and then discovered a different brand name motor under the hood. Hey, at least Shelby was 'keeping it in the Ford family'.

[Ronbo]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Actual displacement vs motor size designation is pretty common within the industry. The 396 GM big block comes to mind as yet another example of advertising vs reality with cid.

Whats under the hood? I recall in the late 60's early 70's, with GM car's in particular, you could never be sure WHAT you might find under the hood. A Buick or Pontiac motor in a Chevy, or vice versa. It was a big stink when people bought a brand name car and then discovered a different brand name motor under the hood. Hey, at least Shelby was 'keeping it in the Ford family'.

Around 1980 Oldsmobile was using 305 Chevys instead of 307 Olds motors, some owners finally looked under the hood and filed a class action suit. GM had to include fine print in sales brochures and owners manuals stating "Your GM vehicle may contain an engine of similar displacement from one of our manufacturers"

We had a Impala wagon at work that had a 307 olds engine in it. (what a dog that was) 1982 Firebirds and T/A's went to Chevy engines as Pontiac dumped that miserable 301.

[Nedsel]

OK, this is all quite fascinating. But let's get down to brass tacks, as it were. I'm planning to troll some of the local bars this weekend, and was wondering if everyone thought it would be all right to place a discreet badge saying something like "Mr. 10 inches" on my lapel. It is possible that I may not exactly have that, uh, powerplant at my disposal, but after all, it is my lapel, and I think whatever I choose to do in this regard is OK. Am I conflicted, or simply right?

[1ntCobra]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

OK, this is all quite fascinating. But let's get down to brass tacks, as it were. I'm planning to troll some of the local bars this weekend, and was wondering if everyone thought it would be all right to place a discreet badge saying something like "Mr. 10 inches" on my lapel. It is possible that I may not exactly have that, uh, powerplant at my disposal, but after all, it is my lapel, and I think whatever I choose to do in this regard is OK. Am I conflicted, or simply right?

Ned,

Let's say you were dressing up as an Elvis replica for Halloween. And perhaps you did not have Elvis's singing abilities, money, drug problems and maybe you managed to get off the toilet alive after you last bowl movement. Does that mean you should not put on the flashy outfit, wig and sunglasses?

[Nedsel]

Well, there you are. Life is full of tough questions to which I have no good answers. Nuts.

[Eric Page]

Originally Posted by Nedsel

I'm planning to troll some of the local bars this weekend, and was wondering if everyone thought it would be all right to place a discreet badge saying something like "Mr. 10 inches" on my lapel.

Please fit yourself with a hidden camera. I really want to see what happens!

[Rick Yeager]

I guess it is silly but this was a real problem for my obsessive compulsive little mind. I did not feel right with 427 emblems when the car was only a 351 and the "Powered by Ford" badges were not correct for the car. Anyway, I chose to just go with the "Powered by Ford" plaques because they were essentially "honest". The car looked much better to me with them on than without them and once they were on I quit thinking about what they said and just enjoyed the improved appearance. The fenders just have more life with the emblems on. No one has ever mentioned them for the engine size or body correctness.

But the bottom line is--It's your car do what you like. Just enjoy it.

Rick